about: two alternatives were considered for this two story Chicago residence. One addressed the need for an additional bath; the other addressed this as well as the need for improved and "public" access to the attic. The second alternative was chosen after preliminary pricing confirmed its economy.

WOODLAWN AVENUE RESIDENCE (CONCEPT 2012)

CLEVELAND AVENUE RESIDENCE (CONCEPT 2012)

role: architect, schematic design

client: private

project type: single family residence / addition + kitchen renovation

location: Chicago, Illinois

collaborators include: Carpenter's Millwork, Cabinetry

about: this 450 SF addition and renovation of a Lincoln Park townhouse reconsiders its kitchen, dining, study and garden/courtyard. The project extends the kitchen into the back yard and locates a breakfast/dining area overlooking an existing garden and courtyard. Circulation from the garage is redirected around the kitchen to a new mud/coatroom defined by a millwork installation and stone floor.

about: This 2,400 SF build-out of a one story loft is the new home for a new psycho-therapy practice. Offices are located at the perimeter about a central gathering space. Acoustical privacy, access to natural light, the preservation of the loft aesthetic and an economy of means were of primary concern. The project was designed and constructed on a fast-track basis.

about: this renovation of a 1,400 SF corner condominium overlooking Chicago's North Avenue Beach was led by R. Perlman Designs with a kitchen installation by Luminaire. DHA assisted with it's envisioning, detailing, lighting and construction administration. The space was made more expansive by eliminating the existing kitchen walls, the installation of translucent doors at all closets, the elimination of door heads and opening the second bedroom into the living room. Privacy for the reconfigured office/guest room is maintained with the installation of two sliding custom wood doors.

about: this rehabilitation of the kitchen of an historic landmark residence (Gauler Twin Houses, 1908) by the architect Walter Burley Griffen was designed with the intent to establish spatial and aesthetic continuity with the existing Prairie School architecture. Without modification to the existing enclosure, counter and workspace were maximized with the use of integrated appliances. The running trim and cabinetry were constructed of rift sawn red oak for it's ecnomy and similarity to the white oak typically found in a residence of this vintage and aesthetic. A light finish was selected for the red oak floor with the intent to brighten the room and compliment the cabinetry. An Italian granite countertop was selected for it's natural beauty as well as its ability to withstand the demands of what will be a busy kitchen. A complementary crackle cream ceramic tile backsplash was selected for its visual depth, utility and historical precedent.

about: the desire of a Chicago family of six for this summer home on Lake Michigan was to achieve a timeless aesthetic that drew from their memories of classic New England shore homes while maintaining an open floor plan in the public spaces to accommodate a fluid lifestyle. From the open kitchen, the heart of this residence, it is possible to take-in most of the activity of the first floor with views to the pool, yard and lake. Family bedrooms are located off a shared open corridor on the second floor and each bedroom has its own large bank of windows. The Master and Guest bedrooms have cathedral ceilings and a balcony to maximize access to natural light with private views to the lake and landscape. The exterior materials include limestone, cedar and lead coated copper, selected for their longevity and low maintenance characteristics as well as their beauty. The interior materials include hand scraped oak floors, stone, tile and pine siding, selected for their durability and capacity to endure years of use gracefully.

about: designed as a year-round retreat for a Chicago family of six, the residence bridges a valley between two dunes on the shores of Lake Michigan in Michigan. Siting of the structure was determined in large part by constraints as set forth by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality with its intent of protecting the dunes and construction amongst them. The family's desire was for a building that would immerse them in the landscape with expansive views of both the lake and land while inside and out. The exterior materials consisting of Ipe, copper, weathering and stainless steel were selected for their longevity and low maintenance characteristics as well as their beauty. The interior is similarly durable and low maintenance with its use of pine siding, Ipe, basalt and cork flooring, basalt countertops and translucent glass shower enclosures. The interior is conditioned with a geo and solar thermal heating and cooling system. Provisions have been made to accommodate a future wind turbine for power generation. The living and dining rooms are on the first floor with bedrooms and a family room on the second. A separate guest quarter is provided above the garage to the north. The boardwalk, which connects the two, extends south to the screen porch and beach path beyond.

about: this restoration and adaptation of a 1902 Hyde Park residence by architect Hugh Garden with Richard Schmidt for a family of five was originally known as the Frankenthal House. Though the exterior form and details throughout are of the Georgian Revival style, Garden's Prairie School influence is apparent in the interior planning of the first floor with its open and continuous public spaces that maximize daylight, views and connection to the exterior porches and gardens. It is with a similar spirit that the interior renovations were conceived. The original service kitchen, butler's pantry and servant's dining room were combined to create a new open kitchen, breakfast and family room with an adjacent mudroom to accommodate a contemporary lifestyle. The existing finish carpentry and millwork were either restored or replaced, as were most plumbing and electrical fixtures. In specific cases such as the living room mantel and dining room ceiling, missing elements were re-created in the spirit of the originals. The interior palette of light colored walls, painted and natural finish trim and millwork keep the interior open and bright. The project included a full exterior restoration.

about: on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, a path consisting of 100 - 3' x 8' pallets was designed to traverse the 100' vertical by 100' horizontal distance between a proposed residence (see also, rocky gap residence) at the top of the bluff and the beach below. In following the existing topography the path becomes part of the landscape. Each pallet, assembled off site with pressure treated southern yellow pine and cumaru, is supported by a 3" diameter galvanized post and modified clamp. With minimal imposition on the landscape, the path is intended to accommodate the continued movement over time of the inherently unstable bluff without catastrophic failure. The lightweight wood assembly provided flexibility in the field to adjust to site specific conditions. The cumaru was left unfinished to minimize maintenance and allow the path to become less conspicuous and continue to recede into the landscape as it weathers.

ROCKY GAP RESIDENCE W/WHEELER KEARNS ARCHITECTS (CONCEPT 2003)

role: intern architect at Wheeler Kearns Architects, schematic design

client: private

project type: single family residence / new construction

location: Benton Harbor, Michigan

about: this project, a residence design near the edge of a 100' bluff on the shore of Lake Michigan in Michigan for a Chicago family of five is intended to immerse its inhabitants in the landscape of woods and lake. The primary entrance to the residence is made through a wooded courtyard and a portal which frames a view to the lake. Wings to the south and north accommodate an indoor lap pool, family room, garage and guest quarters. A "bridge" between the two, contains the bedrooms with the living, dining room and kitchen below.

about: this addition for a Fort Worth family consists of 2,300 SF of terraces and pavilions along with a 1,200 SF pool. The new construction maintains the desired view to the yard and provides access from the existing residence and courtyard. The addition's form and spaces, though contemporary, are intended to be complimentary of the residence's traditional aesthetic.

about: set on a small lake on the outskirts of Forth Worth, Texas, the retreat center for the YMCA's Camp Carter is, among other things, a movie house, studio and supplemental cafeteria for its young campers. It is also used as a fund raiser and made available to the public for activities such as conferences, wedding receptions and reunions. The materials were selected for their durability and, where appropriate, left unfinished to minimize their expense. The building's plan was kept simple to reduce surface area and its embedded expense. With views from the main hall to the lake paramount, supporting activities and infrastructure were placed on the land side perimeter of the building.

about: this addition for a Fort Worth family consists of a 900 SF pool house, pool and landscape which attempt to extend the space of an existing residence from the late 1960's and define the space of its yard. The new construction is understood as a conclusion of sorts to a mature but incomplete story. Its form and spaces, which consist of a sitting area, bar, study and bath are intended to match those of the original residence precisely.

about: the owners of this existing brick cottage in Dallas's Highland Park neighborhood desired an addition for the purpose of accommodating an expanding collection of paintings, drawings, photographs and sculpture. Though nearly doubling the size of the existing residence, the owner's desire was to keep the addition relatively discreet from the street such that the house would remain contextual. Thus the addition and its accompanying garden and garage were kept to the rear of the property. In the process, the existing master bedroom was relocated to the second level with the former space transformed into a double height library. The cottage’s existing spaces, though discrete, already provided for views to adjacent rooms and fluid movement. The intent of the addition was to build and expand on this idea of spatial continuity, keeping the transition from new to old subtle and gradual. The interior materials were chosen with this in mind. The intent of the exterior palette and aesthetic was to make distinct and unambiguous from the exterior, the interior’s transformation. Acknowledging that the primary access to/from the residence was to be between the garage and kitchen, the rear of the residence was thought of as a front.

CLIFF SWALLOW HOTEL W/KURT DAVID GOLL ARCHITECTURE 1997

role: intern architect, schematic design through construction

project type: landscape element

about: designed in a day's charrette and built over several with the assistance of several, this construct and 1st Prize winner of the Dallas Nature Center's Bird House Competition was inspired by Le Corbusier's Unite d' Habitacion.